From the minute you said yes to the moment you walk down the aisle, you need to plan, organise and arrange...here is your step by step plan
12- 9 months to go!
As soon as you're engaged
Register to become a Modernwedding member
- Announce your engagement
- Have an engagement party
- Set your budget - use your budget calculator in Modernwedding planning tools
- Choose your bridal party and let them know
- Set a date
- Start looking for gowns
- Look at venues and locations for your ceremony and reception
- Decide on wedding bands
- Think about the sort of transport you'd like and the number of guests you need to accommodate
- Familiarise yourself with flowers that you like - colours, names, seasons
- Visit studios and decide which style of video, photography and wedding album you'd like
- Design a health and beauty plan (and stick to it!)
- Start your Modernwedding scrapbook, also check out the magazine for ideas
- Think about possible honeymoon destinations
Once you've set the date
- Speak to wedding coordinators and choose one if required
- Find and book your church/ registry office and celebrant
- Make arrangements for the marriage license
- Decide on a theme for your wedding
- Couture gowns need to be ordered at this stage
- Start looking for groom and groomsmen's suits
- Think about the sort of bomboniere you'd like
- Book a venue and a caterer and themer if needed
- Write the guest list using Modernwedding guest list tool
- Look into wedding stationery and wedding vehicles
- Visit floral designers and bouquet preservation specialists
- Think about the flavour, design and size of the cake you'd like and visit bakers to taste-test some alternatives
- Choose a photographer and video producer
- Decide on what sort of music and entertainment you'd like for the ceremony and reception
- Look into dance lessons
- Have a look at gift registries and select one
- Look for your hairdresser and makeup artist
- Visit travel agents and get quotes and information for your honeymoon
6 - 3 months to go!
- Decide on the order of service
- Create a contingency plan for bad weather
- Prêt-a-porter dresses need to be ordered for you and your bridesmaids
- The suits need to be ordered from your bespoke tailor
- Finalise details with venue, themer and caterer
- Order wedding rings, bomboniere, stationery (invitations, order of service, place cards, thank-you cards)
- Book your transport, the entertainment for the reception and music/singers/ organ player for the ceremony
- Choose your florist, flower preservation specialist, cake designer and the style of each
- Discuss all details with your photography studios and have a pre-wedding engagement photography shoot
- Start dance lessons
- Select makeup artist and hairdresser
- Make any radical changes to your hair
- Compile a wish list for your registry
- Book your honeymoon and the accommodation for your wedding night
2 - 1 month to go
- Get all documentation from your celebrant, fill it out and return it
- Select people to make speeches at the reception and let them know
- Organise insurance to cover wedding gifts
- Buy your shoes, lingerie, jewellery and accessories
- Buy groom's shoes and groomsmen's ties
- Final fitting - ensure everything coordinates
- Collect your wedding rings and make sure they fit
- Finalise guest list, send invitations as well as your gift and registry details
- Record all RSVPs on Modernwedding guest list tool
- Order your flowers and wedding cake.
- Decide on how you'd like your flowers preserved
- Organise guest transport
- Decide on specific music to be played at the reception
- Choose your first dance song and practice dancing to it
- Have your trial makeup and hair
- Have a facial
- Buy presents for the bridal party
- Arrange your passport, visas, insurance, injections etc for your honeymoon
- Finalise all details of your honeymoon with your travel agent
1 month - 1 week!
- Make sure your celebrant has all of the paperwork
- Check that the speeches are being done
- Confirm that everyone knows their part and what they're supposed to do
- Collect your gown and store it well
- Break in your wedding shoes
- Make sure all place cards are done
- Confirm all transport, photography, videography, music and entertainment bookings and details
- Confirm the order with your flower preservation specialist, florist and baker
- Trial your hairstyle with headwear
- Have a makeup retrial if needed
- Men's haircuts
- Write thank you notes as you receive gifts
- Check your gift registry - just in case you need to add items
- Order foreign currency and traveller's cheques and collect your tickets
1 week before
- Have a rehearsal of the ceremony
- Prepare bomboniere and place cards to be distributed according to table setting and deliver to reception venue
- Confirm all reception details, cake and flower preservation delivery arrangements, photographer and videographer's arrival time and details and the arrangements for hair and makeup
- Have your rings cleaned and polished
- Get plenty of sleep
- Get a manicure and pedicure the day before
- Prepare your bridal party gifts
- Pack for your honeymoon
- Confirm honeymoon accommodation and re-confirm flights
- Enjoy!